Wire carrier and stretcher



(No Model.)

' A. D. LEEGH. WIRE CARRIER AND STRETCHEIL,

vwawtoz UNITED STATES ALBERT D. LEEOH, OF FARMINGTON, IO\VA.

wiRE CARRIER AND STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,697, dated December30,1890.

Application filed August 14, 1890. Serial No. 361,972. (1T0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALBERT D. LEECH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Farming ton,in the county of Van Enron and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Carriers andStretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the lnvention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for stringing; and stretching wire,and has for its object to provide a simple and convenient device for usein putting up wire fences and telegraph or telephone lines, and which isadapted, also, to be used for reeling or coiling wire when taken down.It comprises a wheeled carriage provided with devices for holding awire-reel, with devices for turning the reel to wind up the wire, withmeans for locking the reel against rotation in either direction, andwith anchors for holding the apparatus to enable the wire to bestretched or tightened, all as hereinafter fully described, and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention and form apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entireapparatus, showing the manner of using the same. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the frame and reel operating devices. Fig. 3 is aperspective detail View showing the means for securing the reel upon theshaft to prevent its rotation thereon, and Fig. 4 is a face view of theclutch-operating spring.

The frame of the carriage is made of metal, preferably of T-iron orsteel, bent, as represented in the drawings,to form a vertical arch 1and two horizontal side bars 2, and two legs 3 at the front end of theside bars, all composed of one continuous piece of iron. The front endsof the side bars 2 are connected by U-shaped cross-bars at, each bent toform two braces, the open ends of which are bolted to the side bars 2,and their closed ends bolted together with a tongue 5 between them. Thelegs 3 are pointed so as to be easily pressed or driven into the ground,the purpose being to use them as anchors to hold the machine from anybackward movement while the wire is being stretched. In order'to preventthem from pulling out they are inclined downward and backward, asrepresented in the drawings. They are strengthened by braces or stays 6running back and connected with the side bars. The arch 1 is alsosupported by braces or stays 7 between it and the side bars 2. Inpractice I propose to make the two stays or braces G 7 out of a singleor continuous bar, the front end of which is connected to the legs 3 oranchor, the rear end to the arch 1, and the center to the side bar 2 atthe point of crossing. This simplifies the construction and gives acontinuous connection between the parts to which the strain ofstretching the wire is applied.

A revoluble reel-shaft 8 is mounted in open boxes or bearings 9 on thevertical arms of the arch 1, so as to be readily taken out and put inplace for the purpose of putting on or taking off a spool of wire 27.One end of the shaft 8 carries a gear-wheel 10, which, when in placemeshes with a pinion 11, suitably mounted on the arch, the shaft of saidpinion being adapted to receive a crank 12, by which it may be turned.Above the pinion 11 is a double pawl 18, either end of which may bethrown into engagement with the teeth of the pinion to prevent rotationin either direction.

Fence-wire is usually put up for shipment and convenience in handling onspools 27, from which it is unwound as required for use. These spoolscomprise crossed end pieces let and 15 at each end connected by atubular or hollow center or core upon which the wire is wound,and as soconstructed they are adapted to be placed upon the reel-shaft 8. Theshaft 8 carries two holding clips or jaws 16 17, constructed to embracethe crossed endpieces 15 of the spool at each end. The

jaw 16 is rigidly secured upon the shaft 8, while the jaw 17 isremovable therefrom to allow the spool 27 to be put thereon. Theremovable jaw is formed with a square hole 31 in its center to conformto the shape of the shaft 8 and to prevent its turning thereon, and onthe outer side of this jaw, around the hole,therc is a round collar 32,made integral with and which projects outward from the jaw and aroundthe shaft; 8, to form a journal on the end of the spool 27, which is ireceived by and revolves in a bifurcated spring when the reel is turned,as hereinafter described. After the spool 27 is placed upon the shaftand the end piece 15 is pushed into the rigid jaw 16, the loose jaw]? isplaced on the shaft, and when the'shaft and spool are in place the jawis held in engagementwith the other end pieces 15 of the spool by aspring 18, which is secured against the inner side of the arch-frame 1.The end of the spring is bifurcated to allow the shaft to be removed andreplaced, and the spring is provided with a set-screw to regulate theten sionon the reel. The shaft 8 also carries a sprocket-wheel 19, whichis in gear, through a chain 20, with another sprocket-wheel 2i, suitablymounted on the side bar of the frame 2 near the front end of themachine. The shaft or journal of the wheel 21 is adapted to receive theremovable crank 12.

On the vertical arms of the arch 1, at or near the top, are sockets 22,adapted to receive'and hold the bracketarm 23, which car.- ries agrooved wheel lei, over which the wire runs, if desired, as it isunwound from the spool 27. The bracket-arm is vertically adjustable inthe sockets 22 on either side of the arched frame most convenient to thefence-posts, and is held in adjusted position by a set-screw A tool-box26 is mounted upon the top of the arch to carry such tools andimplements as may be required in putting up the wire.

The axles 28 are made separately from the frame, and are secured to thelatter in any convenient manner, as by clips and bolts. Upon the axlesare placed movable collars 29, adjustable in and out, and held in placeby set-screws 230. These collars are for the purpose of enabling one touse readymade wheels procurable in the market, the hubs of which vary inlength.

The operation of this machine is as follows: A spool 27 of wire havingbeen placed upon the reel-shaft 8 and the latter placed in its hearingsin the frame, the end of the wire is fastened to the post and thecarriage is drawn forward by the tongue 5, whereby the wire is unwoundfrom the reel. \Yhen a sufficient length has been unwound the machine isanchored by pressing down on the tongue driving the legs 3 into theground at an angle, thereby rigidly holding the cart as against any.backward strain or movement. The crank 12 is then applied to the shaftor journal of the pinion 11, and the latter is turned in the directionto wind the wire upon the reel. \Vhen suiiiciently tightened, the pawl13 is thrown into engagement with the pinion to prevent it from turningback, when the wire will be held taut while the workman secures it tothe posts.

To reel or wind up wire that has been taken down, the crank 12 is placedupon the journal of the wheel 21 and the end of the wire attached to thereel; then by running the carriage backward and turning the crank thewire is wound up.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A truck-frame composed of a continuous bar of metal bent to form avertical arch for the supportof a reel-shaft, horizontal side bars andinclined legs united by braces, and a tongue rigid with the legs adaptedto force the legs into the ground as anchors for the cart, as set forth.

2. A truck-frame composed of a continuous bar of metal bent to form avertical arch for the support of a reel-shaft, horizontal side bars, andinclined legs adapted to serve as anchors, the open ends of the sidebars being connected by Ushaped cross bars bolted thereto, and the axleof each wheel made separately and secured to the vertical arch by clipsand having thereon adjustable collars, as set forth.

k truck-frame composed of a continuous bar of metal, comprising aVertical arch for the support of a reel-shaft, horizontal side bars, andinclined legs adapted to serve as anchors, the said arch and legs beingsup ported by a continuous brace on each side of.

the frame secured thereto and to the side bars, the open ends of theside bars and tongue being united by U-shaped braces, as set forth.

4:. The combinatiomwith the truck-frame, of a revoluble reel-shat t journaled in suitable bearings thereon and provided with a fixed jaw anda removable jaw having an outwardly-projectinsr collar thereon, saidjaws being adapted to engage and hold a spool from turning on the shaft,and a bifurcated spring secured to the frame, holding the col lar of themovable jaw and keeping the jaw in engagement with the end of the spool,and means conneetedwith the spring for regulating the tension on thereel, as set forth.

5. The combination, with a truck-frame provided with opensliaftbearings, a revoluble reel-shaft mounted in said bearings andprovided with a fixed and a movable jaw adapted to engage and hold aspool from tu rning on the shaft, and a bifurcated spring socured to theframe and having a collar of the movable jaw resting in its free end,the spring holding the jaw in engagement with thespool, and one end ofthe spool revolving therein, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix. my siguatu re in presence of twowitnesses.

ALBE R71 D. LEEGI ll.

Witnesses:

G. R. NEFF, W. M. MILLER.

IIO

